(1) A firm may be conditionally qualified when it has been given a below standard (less than 100) performance rating on a final performance report. A prime contractor may also be qualified conditionally by the secretary when performance has become below standard in either "quality of work" or "progress of work" on an interim report for a current project. A design-builder may also be qualified conditionally by the secretary when performance has become below standard in either "construction/construction quality control: design-builder" or "project goals" on an interim report for a current project. The region administrator or designated assistant may, under the foregoing condition, request in writing that a contractor or design-builder be placed in conditional status. A conditionally qualified contractor or design-builder will be denied bidding proposals or the ability to be short listed while in that status but may receive, at the discretion of the secretary, a bidding proposal or allowed the ability to be short listed for one project.

(2) The assistant secretary of engineering and regional operations shall advise the contractor or design-builder and the region administrator or designated assistant when a contractor or design-builder has been placed in conditional status.

(3) Should the contractor or design-builder be the low successful bidder or apparent best value proposer, respectively, and be awarded a contract subsequent to being placed in conditional status, the issuance of further bidding proposals or the ability to be short listed will be considered only when an interim report is submitted in accordance with WAC 468-16-160 or when a final performance report is submitted in accordance with WAC 468-16-150(12) and the rating thereon is standard or better.

(4) Normally a contractor or design-builder may have only one active prime contract for the department while qualified conditionally.

(5) Return to fully qualified status of a conditionally qualified contractor or design-builder will be effected by:

(a) A performance rating of standard or above on contracts completed during the current prequalification year; or

(b) An interim rating of standard or above on all concurrent contracts; or

(c) A standard or above rating on the first interim report for a project awarded subsequent to conditional qualification.

(6) Should the rating continue to be less than standard, the contractor's or design-builder's prequalification will be suspended in accordance with WAC 468-16-180.